Cooling means for ingot molds



Dec. 15, 1931. CORDES 1,836,310

COOLING MEANS FOR INGOT MOLDS Original Filed Dec. 29, 1 26' sSheets-Sheet 1 I I INVENTOR Dec. 15, 1931. F. CORDES 1,836,310

v COOLING MEANS FOR INGOT MOLDS Original Filed Dec. 29, 1926 3Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Patented Dec. 15, 1931 PATENT OFFICE FRANKCORDES, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA ooomne MEANS son meow MOLDSApplication filed. December 29, 1926, Serial No. 157,644. Renewed March18, 1930.

' The present invention relates broadly to the art of metal founding,and more particularly, to the production of ingots.

It is well recognized at the present time by those skilled in the artthat it is necessary in the production of ingots to take special stepsto prevent segregation or piping of the metal forming the ingot. Notinfrequently ingots are produced in which the pipe extends through morethan half the length of the ingot, thereby requiring the cropping off ofthe major portion of the ingot prior to rolling.

Many attempts have been made to control or minimize the segregation orpiping, not only by constructing ingot molds with molding cavities ofvarious contours adapted to follow the ingot during shrinkage, but by soconstructing the molds as to provide greater masses of metal adjacentpredetermined portions, as for example, the bottom, and thereby increasethe heat-absorbing properties of such portions to correspondingly hastencooling in the adjacent zones of the ingots.

It has also been proposed to artificially cool the entire ingot mold byforming the mold walls with cast-in conduits or pipes adapted to receivea suitably controlled cooling fluid. Such constructions have not onlybeen objectionable by reason of the greatly increased cost of the moldsso produced, but by reason of the impossibility of obtaining properlycontrolled localized cooling and the danger inherent in the use of themolds, due

to defective castings or burning out of the casting in such manner as topermit contact between the molten metal and the cooling fluid. Suchmolds have, therefore, not gone into extended use, it being customary inthe 40 large majority of cases to utilize standard ingot molds equippedwith so-called hot tops or feeders adapted to conserve the heat in theupper portions of the ingots and thereby provide a body of .molten metaleffective for feeding the shrinkage caused by cooling and solidificationof the ingots.

Such hot tops have proven extremely valuable, but due to their limitedlife (there usually being a new hot top for each ingot),

they have represented an expense and han-- through a sectionalizedcooler in position on dling problem which may be effectively overcome inaccordance with the present invention.

The present invention has for one of its objects an improved method ofproducing ingots whereby the cooling may be effectively controlledlocally in a predetermined zone of the ingot, without necessitating aspecial mold structure and Without precluding the use of hot tops orordinary stripping apparatus as now used.

In the accompanying drawings,-there are shown for purposes ofillustration only, certain preferred embodiments of the presentinvention, it being understood that the drawings do not define thelimits of my invention, as changes in the construction and operationdisclosed therein may be made without departing either from the spiritof my invention or the scope of my broader claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional View through one form of mold andcooler in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2-is a transverse sectional view on 7 the line'IIII of Figure 1,looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a modified embodiment ofthe present invention;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view through an ingot mold and ingotshowing another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional View an ingot; and

Figure 6 is a view illustrating another embodiment of the invention.

In producing ingots in accordance with Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings,there may be provided an ingot mold 2 of any desired construction, suchfor example, as a big end down mold of the character frequently used atthe present time, although the utility of the invention is not limitedwith respect thereto. The mold is shown as resting on a base or stool 3of suitable construction, and as containing an ingot 4 which has beencast therein.

The outer surface 5 of the mold may be left 100 in its originalcondition, but it is preferably machined or otherwise smoothed toprovide a better bearing surface for cooperation with a detachablecooler 6. This cooler may be of a wide variety of shapes and widths, butis preferably 'so constructed that it may be quickly and easily appliedin position around a predetermined portion of the mold. To this end, itmay comprise angular sections 7 and 8, preferably of identicalstructure, whereby they may be interchanged. Each section is preferablythreaded to receive at least one nipple 9 in an end thereof, and atleast one similar nipple 10 in one side thereof. When the sections areassembled, thenipples 9 of each section will come adjacent the nipples10 of the other section, thereby providing adjacent pairs of nipples towhich connections 11 and 12 may be made, respectively, for the inlet anddischarge of cooling fluid, as indicated by the arrows.

The sections may be clamped or otherwise secured in position around theingot molds or the fittings for the cooling liquid may be' relied uponfor the desired holding of the parts in operative position. When theouter walls of the molds and the inner walls of the sections have beenmachined, it will be apparent that there is provided a contact of suchnature as to permit expeditious heat transfer.

Suitable. valves 13 and 14 for the inlet and outlet, respectively, maybe provided whereby the desired rate of cooling may be obtained bymerely varying the quantity of cooling fluid applied.

In Figure 3, there is illustrated a slightly modified embodiment of myinvention, for the purpose of more clearly showing the possibility ofutilizing the cooler for predeter mined-cooling of varying portions of amold and ingot. In this figure, parts corresponding to parts alreadydescribed are designated by the same reference characters having a primeaffixed thereto. In this figure, the cooler sections 7 and 8 are showncooperating with an intermediate portion of the mold 2, the sectionsbeing held in the desired adjusted position by suitable supports 15 orequivalent means. By means of this adjustment, different portions of amold and ingot may be cooled as required either by the character ofthemold being used or the analysis of the ingot.

With both forms of the invention illustrated herein, the use of aplurality of inlets and outlets in different horizontal planes permitsthe effective width of the cooler sections to be varied in exactly thesame manner as would be possible by dividing the sections horizontallyand varying the number utilized in superimposed relationship at any onetime. If desired, however, horizontal partitions 16 may be provided togive true section-alizing of the cooler both vertically and transverselyto enable definite widths or multiples thereof 'nipple 9 and 10 beprovided, the length of the fittings depending upon the dimensions ofthe mold with which the sections are used. These fittings thread intothe sections at one end and into a manifold 21 at the opposite endwhereby the manifold serves to maintain the sections in adjustedposition about a mold. It will be apparent that sections of thischaracter will be inefficient adjacent the corner of the molds, butadjacent each corner a mass of metal M embraced between the chain lines22 will be available for abstracting heat from the molten metal. In viewof the mass of this wall structure available at these points, the

cooling proceeds substantially uniformly throughout.

In Figure 5 there is shown a form of my invention similar to thatillustrated in Figure .3 with the exception that true sections 23individually removable at will are provided. This enables the number ofsections to be varied at will.

The constructionillustrated in Figure 6 is similar to that showninFigure 5 with the exception that each section comprises a plurality ofcoils 24. Sections of this character may be easily formed by bending apiece of .pipe of the desired length about an ingot mold as a mandrel.

If desired, section 25 as illustrated in Figures 1 and 8 of the drawingsmay be provided for cooling the bottoms of the ingots.

It will be apparent that the present invention enables cooling to belocalized to predetermined zones as desired by'the character of theingot molds or the composition of the material being cast. In thismanner very effective results can be obtained.

The present invention permits the use of standard molds, either with orwithout a hot top as may be desired, and obviates the necessity ofspecially built and correspondingly expensive molds.

Other advantages of the present invention arise from the use of aseparable cooler pretionalizing thereof either vertically or transversely or both, whereby ease of application, control of the zone to becooled and variation in-the width of the cooled zone are all possible.

I claim:

1. As an article of manufacture, a sectional cooler adapted to be bodilyand detachably applied to an ingot mold, said sections having meetinglines adjacent at least two diagonally opposite corners of the mold andeach "of said sections having a plurality of individually controllablemeans for supplying a cooling fluid thereto.

2. As an article of manufacture, a sectional cooler adapted to be bodilyand detachably applied and held in cooperative relation to an ingotmold, each of said sections being substantially L-shaped incross-section and means for varying the effective width of saidsections.

3. As an article of manufacture, a cooler formed insections which areadapted to be bodily and detachably applied to an ingot mold inhorizontal relation, said sections being divided along linessubstantially parallel to the axis of the mold, and means for connectingsaid sections and supplying a coolin fluid thereto.

4. As an article of manufacture, a cooler adapted to be bodily anddetachably appliedto an ingot mold, said cooler being divided intoindependent horizontally disposed sec tions, and water supplyconnections for interconnecting said sections.

5; As an article of manufacture, a sectional cooler adjustable axiallyof an ingot mold and adapted to be bodily and detachably applied to aningotmold, each of said sections having a plurality of means forsupplying a cooling fluid thereto.

6. As an article of manufacture, a sectional cooler adapted to be bodilyand detachably applied andheld in cooperative relation to an ingot moldexteriorly thereof, means forholding said sections in different adjustedpositions, and means for establishing independent circulation of acooling fluid through the sections of the cooler.

7. As an article of manufacture, a cooler adapted to be bodily anddetachably applied and held in cooperative relation to an ingot moldexteriorly thereof from a position entirely laterally thereof with themold in normal position and means for selectively varyingthe effectivewidth of said cooler.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

FRANK CORDES.

